An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, Volume 1 eBook

It having been said that James Ruse, who in March
last had declared his ability to support himself independent
of the store, was starving, the governor told him,
that in consideration of his having been upon a short
allowance of provisions during nearly the whole of
the time he had been cultivating ground upon his own
account, the storekeeper should be directed to supply
him with twenty pounds of salt provisions. The
man assured his excellency that he did not stand in
need of his bounty, having by him at the time a small
stock of provisions; a quantity of Indian corn (which
he found no difficulty in exchanging for salt meat)
and a bag of flour; all which enabled him to do so
well, that he absolutely begged permission to decline
the offer. So very contradictory was his own
account of his situation to that which had been reported.

The barracks at Rose Hill, being so far completed
as to admit of being occupied, were taken possession
of this month by the New South Wales corps.

Several thefts of provisions were committed; two,
that were of some consequence, appeared as if the
provisions had been collected for some particular
purpose; and, if so, perhaps only passed from the possession
of one thief to that of another. While a stalk
of Indian corn remained upon the ground, the convicts
resolved to plunder it, and several were severely
punished; but it did not appear that they were amended
by the correction, nor that others were deterred by
the example of their punishment. So truly incorrigible
were many of these people!

Finishing the clergyman’s and surveyor’s
houses; bringing in bricks for other buildings; posts
and paling for a fence round the run of water; and
making clothing for the people, occupied the convicts
at Sydney.

June.] The bad weather met with by the Supply
during her late voyage to Norfolk Island had done
her so much injury, that, on a careful examination
of her defects, it appeared that she could not be got
ready for sea in less than three months. In addition
to other repairs which were indispensable, her main
mast was found so defective, that after cutting off
eighteen feet from the head of it and finding the heel
nearly as bad, the carpenter was of opinion that she
must be furnished with an entire new mast. This,
when the difficulty of finding timber for her foremast
(which, it must be remarked, bore the heavy gales of
wind she met with, as well as could be desired even
of wood the fittest for masts) was recollected, was
an unlucky and an ill-timed want; for, should it happen
that supplies were not received from England by the
middle or end of the month of July, the services of
this vessel would be again required; and, to save
the colony, she must at that time have been dispatched
to some settlement in India for provisions. She
was therefore forthwith hauled along side the rocks,
and people were employed to look for sound timber
fit for a mast.

On his Majesty’s birthday an extra allowance
of provisions was issued to the garrison and settlements;
each man receiving one pound of salt meat, and the
like quantity of rice; each woman half a pound of meat
and one pound of rice; and each child a quarter of
a pound of meat and half a pound of rice. And
to make it a cheerful day to every one, all offenders
who had for stealing Indian corn been ordered to wear
iron collars were pardoned.